"When Hodgins and I were buried alive, we each wrote a message to someone we loved incase our bodies were ever found. Hodgins wrote to Angela and I wrote to you. Dear Agent Booth, you are a confusing man. You are irrational and impulsive, superstitious and exasperating. You believe in ghosts and maybe even Santa Claus and because of you I've started to see the universe differently. How is it possible that simply looking into your fine face gives me such joy? Why does it make me so happy that every time I try to sneak a peek at you, you're already looking at me. Like you it makes no sense, and like you, it feels right. If I ever get out of here, I will find a time and place to tell you that you make my life messy and confusing and unfocused and irrational and wonderful. This is that time, this is that place."

The words of Bones' wedding vows were burning in Booth's mind. It was a sunset and they were dancing slowly to some cheesy music Angela picked up for the wedding, which wasn't important, all those little details they were worried about turned out to be just a setting for the happiest days of his life, he wasn't lying to Bones, he would have married her wearing a gorilla mask if that what she wanted. They were finally there, at the point in their lives which Booth foresaw that rainy night when she was drunk from tequila and he was drunk from her kiss. It took them nine years to get there, but it was worth every day, Brennan was now his wife and he was her husband and no amount of obstacles they faced, no pain they had to go through in order to grow for each other, nothing of this mattered today. She was breathtakingly beautiful, which was probably what every groom on the planet thinks that at their wedding day, but again, it didn't matter.

He couldn't stop thinking about her vows, it was her way of telling him that on some level she also knew from the start, just like he did, but her logical, empirical mind needed time to adjust to the idea. He thought about all the times they nearly missed each other, with other people, murders and wars, and felt a cold sweat on his spine, what if they failed to catch each other? No, that didn't matter anymore, they were together forever, they had a wonderful daughter growing up and now the whole world knows that they belong together.

'What are you thinking about?' he heard her sonorous voice breaking his trail of thoughts, Booth was holding her hand close to the chest. The lights outside the Jeffersonian were already lit up, there were other couples dancing next to them, the music changed to another romantic song Booth vaguely recognized. But all her could see Bones' big blue eyes staring curiously at him. Despite being the most intelligent person he ever met, sometimes she was almost like a child that demanded an immediate and truthful answer, at first, a million years ago, it was something that was extremely annoying for him, but over the time it became one of the countless things he loved about his partner.

'About today, mostly, about your vows, once again you completely surprised me.'

'Why?'

'I didn't expect it, I guess. I mean it's been so long ago and you wrote that letter for me, I am just happy, happy that I wasn't the only who felt this connection right from the start.'

'But I told you that before,' said Bones raising her perfectly shaped eyebrows. True, she did tell him that if it wasn't for her blood-freezing fear, she would have said yes to him that night near the Hoover, as the unpleasant memory flashed Booth squeezed her hand a little tighter.

'Yeah, but as you say, Bones, this is a hard evidence,' he teased her a little. 'Why haven't you told me sooner about the note? I am just curious.'

'Why, is that important?'

'I don't know, it just feels like it.'

Brennan broke the eye contact and looked at Angela and Hodgins dancing nearby, Booth knew that this experience she and Hodgins shared was the most terrifying thing in her life, to the point that when they convicted Taffet, something broke and Bones had to run away, of course there were other reasons, but Taffet's case was something that was the last strain for Bones. His own experience wasn't as terrifying, after all he wasn't confined in one tiny place without air, true, he had to fight his way out, but in a way it wasn't that different from what he had been through during his military times. If he had to stay in that metal box, where the Gravedigger intended him to be, he would probably have gone mad before Brennan could rescue him, most likely she wouldn't even make it in time. They talked about many cases, but whenever it was about Taffet, Bones just would change the subject, Angela told him once that even years later Hodgins still had nightmares about that day.

'To be frank, at one point I completely forgot about this note, Booth,' Bones said looking back at him. 'When we got out and our lives moved on, I hid it, because as you said it is a hard evidence of something I wasn't ready to face. When Hodgins offered to write a good-bye letter to somebody, I was considering Russ or Angela, but then…Then all I could think is what would you say if I didn't say goodbye, so I wrote what I could comprehend about our partnership and questions that I have been asking myself, because it could have been my only chance.'

He was listening intently, trying not to miss a word, this was one of those rare moments where Brennan was completely open with him, even now years after, she could be lost sometimes in her own world and even though she allowed him more than anybody else in, it was still mesmerizing.

'I didn't think about it for a long time, until I found this note in one of my books that I took with me to Maluku.'

Booth closed his eyes, that year was complicated and hard for both of them. They were on the different sides of the planet, he came back with somebody else trying to move on from something that was impossible to forget, it was the year when everything was just wrong and it will probably haunt him for the rest of his life.

'I read it hundreds of times, even though I remembered every word. I didn't understand that back then, but now I think it was the universe punishing me for making the wrong choice.'

'Hey, don't say that.'

'It's the truth, Booth, it was the same feeling I experienced during Lauren Eames case, the difference was I couldn't do anything about it. I don't have any proof, but that what it feels like.'

'Things like that, they don't need to proof, Bones.'

'Yes, I know that now, but…In any case, all that is in the past. When I found this note, when I accepted the influence you had on me, despite my best efforts, I must say,' Booth couldn't help but smirk at this. 'I promised myself that I will share it with you, but the circumstances changed and by the time you and I got together, we were so busy with everything that was happening, everything was so fast, Christine, us moving in together than Pelant…'

'Please, let's not talk about him on our wedding day, Bones,' Booth winced. This was definitely something that could kill the mood. She smiled brightly at him.

'I was merely trying to say that even though I wasn't hiding from the truth anymore, I just waited for a moment that will emphasize the significance of this note and it feels like today was perfect for it. Am I wrong?'

'No, Bones, you are one-hundred percent right,' he kissed her gently. 'I love you and today can't get any more perfect.'

'Really? What about the official consummation of our relationship?'

'Official consummation? Wow, Bones, only you would call a wedding night, that.'

'Well, we have been sleeping together for years now, Booth, this is just something that society expects from us. Did you know that in some cultures, even today, the newly married couple would need to consummate their marriage in front of the witnesses and the witnesses would encourage the newlyweds, especially the groom, until they achieve orgasm?'

'No, I didn't and I would have lived happily without this knowledge,' winced Booth. 'But I have to say, that I wouldn't mind escape our guests and move ourselves to the hotel room. It is our wedding night, after all.'

'But what about all our friends?'

'I am sure they will understand, we are newlyweds, after all,' he gave her most charming smile and pressed himself closer to her, they really needed to get out of here and he really needed to help her out of this dress, as gorgeous as it was.

'Your logic is acceptable,' Bones took his hand and as they were now passing by the decorations and familiar faces, their intent was clear and nobody even tried to stop them, Aldo gave Booth an approving nod, Angela and Hodgins waved happily at them, Hank and Max just smirked a little and then resumed their conversation. They were almost at the gate when Booth heard Daisy yelling.

'Dr Brennan, Dr Brennan! You didn't throw the bouquet! You can't leave without doing that!'

Before Booth could groan and react, Brennan smiled at him quickly, swirled and threw the bouquet right in the middle of the crowd, without any warning or gathering.

'I just didn't want to waste any more time,' she said as a matter of fact and he was once amazed how lucky he was. They didn't know who caught it and they didn't care.